A TODDLER with long locks like Man City striker Erling Haaland is so sick of strangers mistaking him for a girl he proudly wears a t-shirt with the slogan ‘I’m a boy, I just have better hair than you’.
Theo Sahin was born with a full head of brown hair and, as the three-year-old hasn’t ever had it cut, it now hits his waist.
But the ‘pretty-faced’ lad is always mistaken for a girl when out and about with parents Shannon O’Rourke and Erhan Sahin due to his tumbling locks that sport natural blonde highlights.
The disgruntled tot, who regularly wears his hair in a top knot like blonde-haired Haaland, has taken to correcting well-meaning passersby who compliment him, declaring ‘I’m a boy, not a girl’.
Pub chain owner Erhan says because they were all ‘fed up’ of correcting the lad’s gender they bought him a t-shirt that did the job for them.
Theo now loves wearing the black t-shirt featuring white text that reads ‘I’m a boy, I just have better hair than you’.
Erhan, from Uxbridge, West London, said: “Everyone, everywhere we go, mistake him for a girl. There’s not even one place we can go out without [them saying it].
“He’s got used to it now, when he hears that comment he shouts ‘I’m a boy’.
“Their reply is that he’s ‘got such a pretty face that’s why we think he was a girl’.
“We got the t-shirt from an independent seller on Instagram because we were fed up of the comments, it was just to have a laugh.
“Theo loves the t-shirt. We told him what it says and I think he understands what it means.
“Hopefully it’ll spread the message that long hair doesn’t just belong on little girls.
“The time and age we live in now with equality and all different genders – I think it’s normal to have long hair, it shouldn’t be an issue.”
Man United fan Erhan said Theo was born with a full head of hair and as the tot’s got taller, his locks have got longer.
The 35-year-old said: “He was born with a whole head of hair. It was a darker brown, now it looks like he’s got highlights.
“We have never cut it since he was born, we just let it grow.
“It comes down to his waist, it suits him so much, we give him a Haaland-style top knot.
“Now he’s so used to it when we ask him ‘do you want to have your hair cut?’ he goes ‘no’ straight away. I can’t bring myself to cut it to be honest.”
The dad-of-one said keeping Theo’s locks in order isn’t without challenges, as it requires gentle detangling and is a ‘nightmare’ to dry.
I can’t bring myself to cut it to be honest
Erhan Sahin
Erhan said: “We use a detangler brush on it. It’s a nightmare trying to dry it as you can imagine, the tips all go curly after a shower.
“He’s got highlights all over the place. It’s like we’ve done it, but we haven’t. It would cost a fortune to have that kind of hairstyle.
“Women would kill to have hair like that, so many people have said they’re jealous of his hair.
“I don’t have a good head of hair because I can’t grow mine. I’d rather he grow his – I think he’s taken all my hair-growing genes.”
Theo’s 27-year-old bar manager mum Shannon O’Rourke said: “Everyone is jealous of how well his hair looks and always compliment the shine he has in his hair.”
There are four recognised styles of parenting explained below:
Authoritarian Parenting
What some might describe as ‘regimental’ or ‘strict parenting.
Parents with this style focus on strict rules, obedience, and discipline.
Authoritarian parents take over the decision-making power, rarely giving children any input in the matter.
When it comes to rules, you believe it’s “my way or the highway.”
Permissive Parenting
Often referred to as ‘soft parenting’ or ‘yes mums/dads’.
Permissive parents are lenient, only stepping in when there’s a serious problem.
They’re quite forgiving and they adopt an attitude of “kids will be kids.”
Oftentimes they act more like friends than authoritative figures.
Authoritative Parenting
Authoritative parents provide their children with rules and boundaries, but they also give them the freedom to make decisions.
With an authoritative parenting style, parents validate their children’s feelings while also making it clear that the adults are ultimately in charge.
They use positive reinforcement techniques, like praise and reward systems, as opposed to harsh punishments.
Neglectful or Uninvolved Parenting
Essentially, neglectful parents ignore their children, who receive little guidance, nurturing, and parental attention.
They don’t set rules or expectations, and they tend to have minimal knowledge about what their children are doing.
Uninvolved parents expect children to raise themselves. They don’t devote much time or energy to meeting children’s basic needs.
Uninvolved parents may be neglectful but it’s not always intentional. A parent with mental health issues or substance abuse problems, for example, may not be able to care for a child’s physical or emotional needs consistently.
